When the Chinese Government Chose Her Degree, MiuMiu Miao Chose Entrepreneurship

Send us a textBorn and educated in China, MiuMiu Miao's university major, computer science was assigned by the Chinese government, not chosen by her. By her second year, she realized it wasn’t her path, dropped out, and discovered her true calling through an internship in international trade. That decision set her on a journey to build Baobabtrees - a multi-million-dollar, cross-border supply chain business spanning Africa, Europe, and the Americas.MiuMiu Miao shares how she founded an end-to-end construction and supply chain execution company at just 22, bridging gaps between design, engineering, manufacturing, and on-site installation. Operating across cultures and continents, she built the business without marketing for nearly two decades—growing entirely through trust, execution, and word of mouth.MiuMiu reflects on the challenges of building credibility as a young female founder in the early 2000s, overcoming bias against Chinese manufacturing, and leading teams across languages, cultures, and time zones. Her leadership philosophy centers on integrity, clarity, respect, and long-term thinking.She also discusses her deep commitment to philanthropy through her foundation, Suoma Hua, which has supported over 300,000 children through education by building schools, training volunteer teachers, and sponsoring students from primary school to university.Finally, MiuMiu shares how the Harvard Business School OPM program reshaped her view of leadership—from doing everything herself to building systems, culture, and governance that allow others to lead and the organization to endure.Here are the Top 10 Takeaways from the conversation:Sometimes knowing what you don’t want is the first step to finding your calling.Trust is the hardest—and most valuable—asset in cross-border business.Consistent execution beats marketing; reputation grows through results.Integrity, clarity, and respect are essential when leading across cultures.Word of mouth is the strongest form of global growth when trust is earned.Great leaders step back to build systems that work without them.Long-term thinking creates enduring companies, not quick wins.Education is the most powerful driver of social mobility.Respecting local culture unlocks real collaboration.Purpose beyond profit gives business—and life—lasting meaning. Books: The Next Chapter: Embracing Midlife with Purpose, Peace, and Possibility

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